Kobbie Mainoo tipped to be England's new Paul Gascoigne at Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate told he must start Man Utd star

Mainoo has enjoyed a whirlwind season; from breaking through at United, to earning his first England cap, before heading off to Germany for Euro 2024. Such is his talent, former Three Lions defender Stuart Pearce believes the 19-year-old could be England's star player at the tournament and that he should be in that starting lineup against Serbia for their opening game on June 16.

He told BoyleSports: “Kobbie Mainoo could end up being England’s unexpected star player at Euro 2024, which often happens in these major tournaments. In my time we had the likes of Des Walker and David Platt who enhanced their reputations, even Paul Gascoigne. Mainoo has to take everything in his stride having been arguably the best player in the FA Cup final, he has fit in seamlessly at Manchester United and given the club a huge lift. He’s also stepped in for England and taken that in his stride. That’s the beauty of English football at the moment, young players get the opportunity and they already look very rounded and very comfortable in the environment.”

Pearce added: “In midfield, you have to go with Declan Rice in the middle, Jude Bellingham behind Harry Kane with Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden on the wing. There is another midfield slot alongside Rice and I think at this moment in time it goes to Kobbie Mainoo who has done extremely well for United. It’s a youthful XI with a team of players all in good form and Southgate has the option of playing someone like Mainoo or leaving Rice on his own and going for another attacking player, potentially in Cole Palmer."

England are trying to win their first tournament since the 1966 World Cup. Gareth Southgate's has an embarrassment of riches in his 26-man squad but getting the balance right is not necessarily easy. Some big calls will have to be made and Southgate will have to decide if the teenage midfielder is ready to be unleashed on the big stage.

Red Devils academy product Mainoo could get further game time for England when they take on Iceland at a sold-out Wembley on Friday night in their final Euro 2024 warm-up game, before taking on Serbia nine days later.